SACRAMENTO, CA - Paul Walden, the man accused of a DUI hit and run in Carmichael, has an extensive criminal history.

California Highway Patrol officers spotted the Nissan Maxima they were looking for early Thursday morning. When they pulled the vehicle over, 31-year-old Walden was behind the wheel. He was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs as well as driving with a revoked license.

According to officers, he later confessed to being the driver that crashed into Harison Randall and Gemily West Monday night. The crash severed Harison's leg and killed all four of their Australian cattle dogs.

Sacramento County Court records detail 15 criminal charges over the past 10 years filed against Walden, those include three DUI's.

4/19/2011

Charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth)

Charged with Assault and Battery

10/21/2010

Charged with petty theft (shoplifting at Target)

12/2/2005

Charged with DUI

Charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance

Charged with driving on a suspended license

10/22/2003

Charged with possessing with intent to distribute forfeit checks

Charged with receiving stolen property

9/5/2003

Charged with burglary and grand theft

3/31/2003 Charged with DUI

Charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance

Expired registration

1/31/2003

Charged with possession of a controlled substance

7/25/2001

Charged with DUI

Charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance

"He should not be driving," CHP Officer Todd VanLindt said. "But unfortunately you can't take keys away from people and he can get out on the road like anybody else."

VanLindt said when Walden was arrested, he had no idea he was the main suspect in the hit and run.

"It wasn't until later that he realized that we were also questioning him about that," VanLindt said. "(Then he) said that while he was driving he saw one person walking a dog, and knew he hit something, but didn't think he hit the person. Figured just because it was a dog he wasn't going to stop and continued driving."